Shloka 1

ब्रह्मणो वरप्रदानम् — शिवस्य परत्वप्रतिपादनम् तथा वराहेण भूमेः पुनःस्थापनम्

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे ब्रह्मणो वरप्रदानं नाम सप्तत्रिंशो ऽध्यायः शैलादिरुवाच गते महेश्वरे देवे तमुद्दिश्य जनार्दनः प्रणम्य भगवान्प्राह पद्मयोनिमजोद्भवः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge brahmaṇo varapradānaṃ nāma saptatriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ śailādiruvāca gate maheśvare deve tamuddiśya janārdanaḥ praṇamya bhagavānprāha padmayonimajodbhavaḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, begins the thirty-seventh chapter entitled “Brahmā’s Granting of Boons.” Śailādi said: when Lord Maheśvara had departed, Janārdana, fixing his mind upon Him, bowed in reverence and then addressed the Unborn Brahmā, the Lotus-born.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā

• vara-pradānam: granting of boons

• nāma: named

• saptatriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the thirty-seventh chapter

• śailādiḥ uvāca: Śailādi said

• gate: having gone/departed

• maheśvare deve: when the God Maheśvara

• tam uddiśya: directing (thought) toward Him / with Him as the aim

• janārdanaḥ: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

• praṇamya: having bowed/prostrated

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• prāha: spoke

• padmayonim: to the lotus-wombed (Brahmā)

• aja-udbhavaḥ: the Unborn-originated / the Unborn (Brahmā).

Speaker

Śailādi

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames the chapter by showing the primary posture of Liṅga-bhakti: after Mahādeva’s departure, Viṣṇu turns his attention to Him (tam uddiśya) and begins with praṇāma—inner orientation and reverent surrender, foundational to Liṅga-pūjā.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is implied as Maheśvara, the supreme Pati whose presence and absence still governs the cosmos; even when He “departs,” the devotee’s consciousness remains directed to Him, indicating His transcendence beyond mere physical proximity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights praṇāma (prostration) and uddiśya (one-pointed intentionality toward Śiva), a bhakti-infused yogic focus aligned with Pāśupata orientation: turning the pashu’s mind toward Pati to loosen pasha.